University of Southern California · Social ScienceFinch Cognition Lab
Brian K. Finch · Los Angeles, California
Research Focus
Dr. Brian K. Finch's lab at the University of Southern California focuses on understanding how education influences cognitive health, particularly in relation to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The research investigates the impact of social factors like gender and country of origin on access to education, which in turn affects cognitive outcomes throughout a person's life. By analyzing data from a diverse set of longitudinal studies, the lab aims to uncover the complex relationships between education, genetics, and dementia risk.
Alzheimer's diseasedementiaeducationcognitive functiongender differencessocial inequalitygene-environment interactionlongitudinal studiestwin studieseducational opportunities
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate mechanisms of educational influences on cognitive functioning.
AIM 02Examine the role of gender in educational and occupational opportunities.
AIM 03Analyze relationships between education, cognition, and dementia risk across diverse environments.
AIM 04Explore intergenerational impacts of parental education on dementia outcomes.
AIM 05Utilize twin studies to understand gene-environment interactions in cognitive health.
Skills the Lab Values
data analysisstatistical modelingtwin study methodologieslongitudinal data analysispolygenic scoringsociological research methodssurvey designeducational inequality indexinginterpersonal communicationresearch collaboration
Output against the department
Publications111bottom 44% of dept.43rd of 77
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations7.7ktop 31% of dept.24th of 77
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.